But Casino Royale gives you realistic gritty action by a tough, muscled Bond (Daniel Craig). In spite of all the usual Bond elements missing, you have some of the best action scenes in recent times and the beginning of Bond, James Bond. Why Bond never falls in love, why does he drink his martini shaken and not stirred? These and a few other nuances of the very successful Bond are shown in this movie.

This movie is the making of Bond as 007.

James Bond is promoted to 007 by M (Judi Dench) and is on the trail of a group of terrorists financed by the ‘banker of terrorism, Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen). After a highly thrilling chase of an agile bomb maker, Bond is on the trail of Le Chiffere and is finally allowed to gamble against him at Casino Royale in Montenegro.

The buy in at an unbelievable $10 Million and a re-buy at $5 Million, financed by Her Majesty and a svelte lady named Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) to keep an eye on Her Majesty’s investment. If Bond looses, Her Majesty’s government would have directly financed terrorism, for Le Chiffre uses the winnings to disperse to his investors, the terrorist groups.

Is it a game of chance or is it about holding your nerve? A game of nerves, deceit and betrayal unfolds.

Felix Lieter (Jeffery Wright) of the CIA makes his appearance who in the later Bond stories becomes quite a friend of Bond. Mad Mikkelesen as Le Chiffre appears sad and doesn’t leave you with memories of him after you leave the theatre. You don’t remember Eva Green or any of the other women. What you do remember is the very human Bond who bleeds, is beaten and tortured but yet appears tough and determined with the force shining through his blue eyes.

Blond, blue eyed, muscular. Not your typical Bond. But Daniel Craig does well and Casino Royale may not be a great Bond movie but definitely is a good movie. If nothing else, the action is worth a watch.